Blazers Win 4 In A Row

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Before the Portland Trail Blazers took the court against the Detroit Pistons, they got a visit from some of team’s players of the past.

Clyde Drexler and Jerome Kersey were among those who offered the young Blazers a bit of inspiration before they went out and beat the Pistons 102-94 Tuesday night.

“I want that. I want to be Rip City again,” said guard Brandon Roy, recalling a phrase from the Blazers’ storied past.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Portland snapped a four-game losing streak at the Rose Garden to Detroit and former Blazer Rasheed Wallace.

The Trail Blazers (4-3) extended their winning streak to four games, all at home, after dropping their first three on the road. Portland was coming off a victory over the Mavericks on Saturday night.

The victory snapped a 13-game losing streak to Dallas.

“We do feel good,” Roy said. “It definitely helped our confidence. We beat one of the best teams in the East and one of the best teams in the West.”

The Blazers led by seven points in the final quarter, but Detroit narrowed it to 94-91 on Tayshaun Prince’s layup with 2:11 to go. Jarrett Jack answered with a layup, and the Blazers pulled away.

Jack and Roy each scored 20 points for Portland.

The Pistons (5-2) had won their last two, including a 107-103 victory in Seattle on Sunday night.

Prince led Detroit with 20 points, while Chauncey Billups added 19.

The last Trail Blazers’ win over the Pistons at the Rose Garden was back in March 2003. The Blazers had not won at home against Detroit since Wallace has been with the Pistons.

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